MENZIES OF MENZIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 60

MENZIES OF MENZIES.

The Menzies Clan Society met on the last day of September, 1899, at Weem, near Aberfeidy, to celebrate the eighty- third birthday of their hereditary chief', Sir Robert Menzies, of Meazies. There arc few men in broad Scotland, be they young or old, who can carry themselves more proudly than Sir Rcfoert. Standing six feet two out of '"his shoes, upright and graceful as the proverbial willow wand, with eyes bright and piercing, and a voice whose tones can yet ring deep and true, the chief must be a remarkable figure in any company. Last winter, at a ball given by the Clan, he danced reel after reel, apologising fcr " missing some of the prettiest steps on -account of a twinge of the gout." He is allied hy marriage in past generations to the noble families of Argyll, Atholl, Bute, and Dunmore. His late, wife was a daughter of Stewart-Al-ston, of Urrard. She died, under painful circumstances, five days after the marriage-, of her elder daughter to Atholl Macgregor, of Macgregor.

The Clan Menziss has many prides, but the one dearest to the hearts of its members is their tartan. The hunting tartan is red and green, and of no very distinctive beaut;/ ; but the dress tartan is a gorgeous lined chequer of red and white, so startling as to take away one's breath when it is worn as one fervent lady dares to wear it, an unbroken garb from head, to foot. The "official Bardess" of the Clan, Miss Jane Josephine Menzies, has written some spirited lines often quoted with vast effect. They celebrate the triumphs of the ash (the Clan's hunting badtjc) . and the stag's horn moss, which, together with " the red and white," share the affections of the Clan.

Lieutenant Menzies played a conspicuous part at the gathering. In his speech he declared that he hoped and expected to see their chief live to at least a .hundred. Some of the chiefs had done that. Sir Alexander Menzies, who fought at Banliockburn fcr Scottish liberty, lived to. close on a hundred, and there were iccords to prove it ! This remark was re- . ceived with great applause, the members present hailing their chief with the war cry of the Clan ; and there was a suspicious moisture about Sir Robert's eyes as he acknowledged the compliment.

Castle Menzies if a fine old pile standing on the north bank of the River Tay, surrounded with really beautiful policies. It is altogether in a rnoro sheltered and come-at-able situation than Sir Robert's other seat, "Rnnnoch Lodge. This latter stands at the end of Loch Ramioch, Avilh the wide sweeps of the Moor of Rannoch all about it, and the sharp shadow of the great Schiehallion Mountain falling dark Tipon the heather. Artists rave of the beauty of the moor, and deer-stalkers know the money value of its rough-sur-fneed acres, but to mont of the rest of us it is the bleakest and dreariest expanse across which, a crow ever moved its wings.